Formed in 2012, the institute aims to promote open, informed and evidence-based debate by bringing together pro-democracy experts to debate ideas with policy makers with a view to entrenching democratic practices in Zimbabwe.
ZDI Director, Pedzisai Ruhanya, said his organisation was seeking to generate ideas through public policy research of the highest quality, rigorous intellectual policy analysis and through the creation of a national policy debate platform.
“Our objective is to be a policy analysis resource centre with strong links to organisations that share common values and with Zimbabwean intellectuals in the Diaspora. The resource centre will offer cutting edge ideas to policymakers and civil society actors through the provision of training and consultancy,” he said. He added that ZDI’s mandate was to be a national forum for rigorous policy debate by maintaining an open forum for constructive dialogue and consensus building across society and government.
“Given that there are only a few politically independent policy think tanks, we strive to fill the gap,” he said. According to ZDI, public policy research and policy analysis has been erratic, uncoordinated and in most cases driven by the requirements of partisan political processes, some which work against the entrenchment of a democratic political culture in Zimbabwe.
“All this has led to the existence of a democratic movement that lacks clear policy alternatives to take Zimbabwe forward. Consequently, decision-making and policy development has largely been elite driven,” Ruhanya said.
ZDI will also tap into progressive and democratic ideas in the Diaspora by providing a link between the Diaspora and pro-democracy domestic actors.
“We will conduct monthly Policy Briefs responding to public policy pronouncements by the authorities and other partners that is involved in the domestic, regional and international affairs of Zimbabwe,” he said.
ZDI is composed of a team of trustees drawn from eminent Zimbabwean scholars, experts and academics who give policy direction to the Secretariat Staff.
These include media and communications expert Rashweat Mukundu, media Lecturer, Sibongile Mpofu, Gladys Hlatywayo, Phillip Pasirayi, and Phillan Zamchiya. The ZDI secretariat is led by Pedzisai Ruhanya and Dewa Mavhinga.
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Good luck, you will need all the luck to survive and succeed in Zimbabwe. This is taken for granted in normal countries. We hope the new constitution will usher a new beginning and give birth to a new country which is more important than the politicians and lives will not be estinguished without good reason.